i have a yr3, yr1 & preprimary this year and all up between booklist & voluntary fees(which should be compulsary) its $350. that to me is incredibly CHEAP. This is a whole year of schooling. sure i still purchase uniforms, school bag, library bag etc etc.. but that doesn't have to be expensive.

and yes we have the pooled system in younger grades, frustrates me to no end knowing some parents dont pay. because the school offers payment options! im sure a few would not have the money at all but that would be rare. majority would want a free ride.

Grade 1 booklist for this year was just over $120 and included tissues and shared items etc. I don't blame the school. Most teachers I know already reach into their own pockets to buy classroom items for craft and reward incentives. Education is underfunded.

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DS year 2 booklist comes to almost $200, then I need to buy 2 boxes of tissues, a USB stick and a library bag. Plus his school shirts are $20 a pop plus he needs a school brand hat.
So not including the $200 booklist, Ive set aside another $200 to pay for his full uniform, new school bag and lunch box and the labels for all his stuff.

For prep last year we had to just pay a $80 resource scheme that gave the children everything they needed for the year!! This year for grade 1 we have a book list!!! Something on it sound a bit extreme for instance it states that she needs 3 boxes of 20 pencils :0 ummmm what thats 60 pencils.
You can get everything you need in a book pack but I have decided that in getting it all myself and sending her to school with 1 thing of each that's required and will leave the rest at home untill she tells me she needs more or her teacher does!!!
I have a suspicion that stuff they aren't using will be placed in the store room and then just givin to kids willy nilly throughout the year!!!

My school fees used to be $10,000+ at private school, which didn't include books, stationery, uniform, camp etc. This was in the 80s/90s so would be a lot more now.

I feel like I got off really lightly paying $600 for contributions, stationery, library fee etc for DD to start at a state school.

I think the point of this thread, though, was that it is unfair for the school to expect parents who do pay for stationery to pay extra to cover the kids of parents who don't pay. I have to agree with that, I think the burden should be shifted elsewhere (like the government).

The Following User Says Thank You to Mod-biscotti For This Useful Post:

I got fed up with the pooled system too & I asked the teacher to send a note home if something was needed. I did buy everything on the list & gave it to my children as needed. I've also seen organised teachers to a draw tidy & she would tick off on a list what was needed/almost needed & send it home with the kids. Worked pretty well.

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